Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Name: Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter, cubed; 1/2 cup sugar; 3 tablespoons baking cocoa; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1/8 teaspoon baking powder; 1/8 teaspoon salt; CHEESECAKE LAYER:; 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup sugar; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; GANACHE:; 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What could be better than a brownie crust layered with chocolate cheesecake and topped with chocolate ganache? These cheesecake bars will satisfy even the biggest chocolate lovers out there. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
CHEESECAKE LAYER:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
GANACHE:
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil, letting ends extend up sides; grease foil. In a microwave, melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Stir in sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Add egg; blend well. Add flour, baking powder and salt; stir just until combined. Spread into a thin layer into prepared pan. Bake until top appears dry, 6-8 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in cooled chocolate chips. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Spread over brownie layer. Bake until filling is set, 25-30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.
For ganache, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla; cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Pour over cheesecake layer; cool in pan on a wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Lifting with foil, remove brownies from pan. Cut into bars.